Steam-trap.



P. J. HEFFERNAN.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLIOATION TILED JAN. 7, 1911.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

i a" @i' IIIIIIIIIIII/IA may.

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rumcx .1. nsrrnmun, or antenna, New messy.

STEAM-TRAP.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

990,735. Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Januar 7, 1911. sci-mine. 801,321.

To all whom it may ncern:

'Be it known that I, PATRICK J. Harm!!- NAN, a citizen of theUnitedStates, residing .at Bayonne, in the county of Hudson and State of NewJersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Traps, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in steam traps, more particularlyof the type shown in my prior U. S. Patent No. 803,483, of October 31,1905.

The cially e improvement, in respects to be particularly enumerated, ofcertain of the elements which enter into the general combination of myprior structure, and the objects of the improvements to be herein setforth are to increase the sensitiveness of action, thus adapting-thetrap for more general application; to provide for more readyaccessibility to the parts for the purpose of cleaning, repairing orrenewing; and to render the construction of generally simpler and lessexpensive nature.

The invention is illustrated in theaccompanyi-ng drawings, wherein- IFigure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the improved trap; Fig. 2is an end elevation thereofiFi 3 is a erspective view of an improved eement o the valve construction;,an'd Fi 4 is a perspective view of animproved e ement of the valve operating mechanism.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

Inasmuch as the general construction of trap herein shown is describedwith particularlty in my prior patent referred to, only a briefreference will be made to the essen-- tial parts. These are the casing 1having the inlet connection 2, the outlet connection 3, the pet-cock 4fitted in the dome, the pipe '5 communicating with the lower end of thecasing and through which collected impurities are dischar d or blownoil, the valve construction, an the valve operating mechanism,comprising a system of lazy tong levers 7, a float 8 connected to thelever system at'its upper end, the said float having an axially extendedguide rod 9 which projects into the sleeve of the pet-cock, the

member 10 which constitutes, inter alia, a

suspension means for the system of lazy tong levers and is connectedthereto at an interpresent invention contemplates espe t mediate fixedFoint, and the lever 11 which is suspended rom the member 10 andconstitutes, inter aZz'a, a. carrier for the discharge valve'and isconnected with the system of levers at'the lower end thereof.

The foregoing elements in their broad or general aspect are fullydescribed in my prior patent. The present improvements reside moreparticularly in the vvalve construction, in the construction of thesuspension member 10, and in the construction of the lever 11. Accordingto the present inventlon the valve casing is formed as a part of themember 10. The latter-comprises a relatively thin shank, having near itsinner end an enlargement 12 face with a threaded boss 13. Theenlargement 12 is formed with an inclosed discharge duct 14, whichterminates in a valve seat 15 and a reduced opening 16 leading coaxiallyfrom the valve seat to the upper face of the boss 13. The member 10 isheld rigid in the-casing by means of an elbow coupling 17, one end ofwhich is threaded upon the inner end of the connection 3 and the otherend of which has threaded engagement with the boss 13. The member 10serves in turn, as above stated, as' a means forsuspending the leversystem 7 and as a means for sus ending the lever '11. With regard to thelatter oflice the memberlO is provided at its inner end with anapertured ug 18 through which is threaded a set screw 19 and in theopening of which is fitted a shank 20 which is held rigidly in positionby said set screw. The shank 20 is thus in efl'ect a ri id angularextension of the member 10 and is directly pivoted to the lever 11 nearthe inner end of the latter, the said lever having a slot 21 whichextends longitudinally from its innei' edge and in which the lowerflattened portion of the shank 20 is fitted. The valve which cooperatesWith the seat 15 is shown at 22 and is in the nature of a plu whichworks axiall in-the passage 14, sai valve being of need 9-point form atits working end and having 1ts lower end flattened and pivotally fittedin the slot 21 aforesaid. The lever 11 is also formed with a slot 23which is in line with the slot 21 and extends from the opposite end ofsaid lever, serving to receive the end portions of the lower levers of.the system 7.

In the improved construction and in accordance with the invention, theofice of it performs the ordinary function of a lever and in the secondplace it erforms the func-' tion. of a counterbalance orthe float 8,being in this respect in the nature of a cast-ing of proper we1ght.- Bythus combining a counter-balance with the float 8 in the manner shownand explained, the action of the valve operating mechanism is renderedmore sensitive and at the same time it is permitted to employconnections of larger diameter, thusincreasing the capacity of the trap,for automatically delivering liquid of condensation.

The formation of the valve casing as a part of the member 10 is ofadvantage not only inrespect of sim lifying the construction andrendering it ess expensive but also in res ect of providing for moreready accessibi it for the purpose of assemblage, disassem lage,cleaning, or repairs. Furthermore, this construction ,provides for avertical disposition of the discharge passage and for the working of thevalve coaxially in this passage, for which reason the 'tendency to passextraneous matter is greatly reduced.

The provision of the shank 20 is of advantage in that it affords a readymeans for adjusting the valve 22 with relation to its seat and for thuscompensating for wear.

The construction above described is selfcontained and may be removed orreplaced as a unit, and for such removal or replacement it is onlynecessary to remove the upper head of the casing 1, no furthermanipulation of said casing being required.- To facilitate theremoval-and replacement of the self-contained organization, theconnection 3 is provided near its inner end with a rigidly fitted collar24 having at one side thereof a lug 25 which engages in a recess in theadjacent face of the casing and thus holds the connection 3 againstturning when the securing nut 26, arranged on the outside of the casing,is applied. Interposed between this securing nut and the casing is acollar 27 which serves to retain a packing ring 28'that is fitted in arecess in the adjacent face of the casing. When it is desired to removethe self-contained organization from the casing the upper head of thelatter is first removed and the nut 26 is taken from the connection 3.Thereupon the structure may be removed from the casing, first by alateral and then by an axial movement, as is obvious.

While the improvement has been described as a steam trap it will beunderstood that it can with equal and advantageous facility be used forother analogous purposes, e. g., as an oil trap, which use may bedcrstood that no de arture from any of the essential features 0construction above described is necessary, the only changes in factconcerning the buoyancy of the float and the mass of the weight inaccordance with differences in the specific gravity of .the fluids to beseparated.

Having fully described my invention, I '7 claim: 1. In a steam trap, incombination, a casing having an inlet. and outlet connection, a

member coupled to the outlet connection and comprising a horizontallydisposed shank having an enlargement at itsinner end, the enlargementbeing formed with a vertical discharge passa e terminating in a valveseat and with a not leading from the valve seat to the upper face of themember, a valve working coaxlally in the discharge assage, a leversystem connected to the ot er end of the shank and bein suspended fromthe latter, a float connecte to the upper end of the lever system, and alever carrying the valve and connected to the lower end of the leversystem.

2; In a steam trap, in combination, a casing having an inlet and anoutlet connection,

.an elbow coupling joined to the latter, a

member threaded into the elbow coupling and formed with a verticaldischarge passage terminating in a valve seat and with a' duct leadingto the upper face of the member from the valve seat, a valve workingcoaxially in the discharge passage, and valve operating means having its'operation auto- 'matically consequent to changes in the level of theliquid in the casing.

3. In a steam trap, in combination, a casing havingan inlet and'anoutlet connection, a member coupled to the outlet connection and havingat its inner end a vertical discharge passage terminating in a valveseat and a duct leading to the upper face of the member from the valveseat, a lever system suspended by the member, a float operativelyconnected to the upper end of the lever system, a lever operativelyconnected to the lower end of the lever system, the lever carryin thevalve, and a vertical shank adjusta ly connected to the member andforming in effect a rigid angular extension thereof, the lever aforesaidbeing pivoted to and suspended by the shank.

4. In a steam trap, in combination, a casing having an inlet and anoutlet connection, a valve chamber coupled to the latter, a verticallydisposed valve which has its seating in said chamber, a lever ofsubstantial weight and provided with slots extending from its end faces,the lower end of the valve bein pivotally fitted in one of the slots, afixe part by which the lever is suspended and which has its endpivotally fitted in one of the slots, a lever system having an endivotally fitted in one of the slots, and a oat connected to the upperend of the lever system, the lever constituting a counterbalance for thefloat.

5. In a steam trap, in combination, a casing having an inlet and anoutlet connection, the latter comprising a threaded pipe section whichis fitted in a wall of the casing and is provided with a fixed collarhaving a projecting lug, the said wall having a recess in its inner facein which the lug engages, a retaining nut fitted'on the connectionadjacent the outer face of said wall, a valve chamber Within the casingand coupled to the outlet connection, a valve having a seating in saidchamber, and valve operating means having its operation automaticallyconsequent to changes in the level of the liquid in the casing, thevalve chamber, valve and valve operating mechanism having conjointly aself-contained organization. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set myhand in presence of two subscribing wltnesses.

PATRICK J. HEFFERNAN.

Witnesses:

DANIEL MURRAY, JAMES B. FAGNELL.

